Exerciser



Sept. 24, H. c WEAVER I 2,015,298 I EXERGISER Filed Aug. 27, 1928 m mp. Harry G lA/aal/a BY I -70Zu2mm M ETTUEJVEY Patented Sept. 24, 1935 UNITED STATES misses PATENT osrls ExsacrsER Application August 27, 1928, Serial No. 302,177

11 Claims. (01. 12863) My invention relates to exercising machines and more particularly to a machine for vibrating an engaging member or belt adapted to surround a portion of the anatomy of an individual.

It is desirable in such a machine to impart to the engaging member or belt a reciprocating motion through a short distance.

It is an object of my invention to provide a machine which will impart to an engaging member adapted to contact a portion of the anatomy of an individual reciprocating motion through a short distance.

Because of the great tension exercised on the engaging member or belt it is necessary to provide an actuating mechanism which is extremely rugged in construction.

It is another object of my invention to provide a machine of the class described providing a mechanism capable of efficient and long continuing operation with great tension exerted upon the engaging member or belt.

It is still another object of my invention to provide a machine of the class described in which the mechanism is very simple and the parts very few in number.

Further objects and advantages will be made evident in the following description and the accompanying drawing, in which:

Figure 1 illustrates a vertical sectional view of one embodiment of my invention.

Figure 2 illustrates a perspective View of the upper portion of the embodiment shown in Figure 1.

Figure 3 is a horizontal sectional View on the line 3-3 of Figure 1, looking in the direction of the arrows, the vibrating bar thereabove being illustrated in dot-dash lines.

Referring to the drawing and particularly to Fig. l, the numeral ii represents a mechanism support and housing comprising a lower portion l2, shown approximately cubical merely for the sake of illustration, and an upper portion [3 communicating with the lower portion l2, the upper portion it being substantially frustoconical. Received in the top of the upper portion It of the housing H is a bushing hi comprising a cylindrical portion l5 extending downwardly in the upper portion l3 of the housing H, and a flange portion I6. As best shown in Fig. 1, the flange portion it of the bushing M has a diameter substantially equal to the diameter of the upper end of the upper portion E3 of the housing H.

Adapted to be journaled in the bushing I4 is a preferably vertical shaft or rod [1 to the upper end of which is secured, as by a pin 58, an approximately semi-spherical cap H! of a diameter substantially equal to the diameter of the flange portion it of the bushing it and the upper end of the upper portion l3 of the housing H. The 5 lower surface 29 of the cap i9 is adapted to bear upon the flange portion 56 of the bushing as. Connected to the cap l9 are two oppositely extending horizontal arms 2!. As best shown in Fig. 2, the arms 28 may be circular in cross-section ex- 10 cept for a flat side 22.

The normally vertical rod ll extends downwardly centrally through the upper portion l3 into the lower portion E2 of the housing Ill and is journaled near its lower end in a bushing 28 supported in an inwardly projecting portion of the housing ll. Non-rotatably attached to the vertical rod ll below the bushing 23, as by a pin 25, is a horizontal connecting arm or crank 26. Rotatably attached to the other end of the arm it as by a crank-pin 2? is a connecting rod or link 23, the other end of which is rotatably attached as by a crank pin or pivot 29 to a crank 3t. As best shown in Fig. 1, the crank 39 isnon-rotatably attached to a shaft 3! of a motor 32 and is associated with a counterbalance 33 on the opposite side of the shaft St, the motor 32 being so positioned that its shaft 3i and its axis of rotation are parallel to the rod ll, that is, normally vertical. Attached to the casing of the motor 32 are arms 3a, which are secured as by bolts 35 to the inner surface of the lower portion l 2 of the housing II.

The housing ll may be attached as by bolts 36 passing through flanges 37 extending inwardly from its lower portion 2 to one end of a base 38, whose other end extends beyond the housing H, as best shown in Fig. 1. Openings 39 with covers 40 may be provided in the top and side of the lower portion l2 of the housing H to permit the supplying of lubricant to the motor 32 and grease cups associated with the crank-pin 2? V and the link 28.

Adapted to'be slidably mounted upon the arms 2! at the top of the vertical rod I? is a pair of hooks 2 with hubs having a non-circular bore at corresponding with the non-circular section of the arms 2! but slightly larger to provide the necessary clearance. Each hook 4-2 is provided with a thumb-screw M preferably adapted to pass through that portion of the hub of the hook 42 adjacent to the flat side of the cylindrical bore 43 and to bear against the fiat portion 22 of the arms 2| to secure each of the hooks 62 in any desired position upon the arms it in order to regulate the amplitude of vibration or reciprocation imparted to the associated belt 4'!. Each of the hooks i2 is adapted to receive a'ring 45 linked to an eye 46 secured to each end of an engaging member, applicator or massaging belt 41, as best shown in Fig. 2.

The operation of the described embodiment of my invention is as follows:. a

When the motor 32 is energized, the shaft 3 and the associated crank 38 are caused to rotate. As the crank 353 rotates, the pivot 29 and that end of the link 28 connected thereto rotate about the axis of the shaft 3i and the other end of the link 28 together with the pin 21 and one end of the arm 26 associated therewith are thereby caused to move back and forth through an are about the axis of the vertical rod H for each revolution of the crank The oscillating motion of the arm is imparted to the vertical rod I? and from the vertical rod H to the arms 2| associated therewith. As the arms 2! swing back and forth about the axis of the vertical rod I! an adjust- .able reciprocating motion of high frequency is imparted to the engaging member or belt 41 so that when the engaging member 4'! is caused to contact a portion of the anatomy of an individual standing upon the base 38 a vibratory motion of high frequency is imparted to the flesh of the individual resulting in increased circulation, with consequent well known beneficial effects.

It is evident that I have provided an exercising machine capable of imparting reciprocating motion through a short distance to an engaging member adapted to contact a portion of the anatomy of an individual. Moreover, since the counterbalance 33 may be so designed as to counterbalance the link 28, it is likewise apparent that I have provided a mechanism of the class described capable of efficient and long continued operation even with great tension exerted upon the engaging member 21. It is also seen that by positioning the motor 32 with its shaft 3| in a vertical position and by providing a very compact mechanism comprising the crank 30, the link 28, the arm 26 and the vertical rod I I, I have provided a machine of the class described embodying a mechanism which is extremely simple and which comprises but very few parts.

Although the form of embodiment of my invention herein illustrated and described is fully capable of fulfilling all of the objects primarily stated, I do not wish to be restricted to this form, for my invention is capable of various other embodiments all coming within the scope of the claims which follow.

I claim as my invention:

1. In an exercising machine, the combination of: an engaging member adapted to contact a portion of the anatomy of a person; a rod providing arms, said arms being adapted to be associated with said engaging member; a connecting arm non-rotatably attached to said rod; a shaft adapted for rotating, the axis of said shaft being substantially parallel to the axis of said rod; a link, one end of which is rotatably attached to said connecting arm and the other end of which is associated with said shaft eccentric to the axis of rotation of said shaft; means associated with said shaft for counterbalancing purposes, and means for rotating said shaft for moving said link and imparting oscillating motion to said connecting arm, said rod and said engaging member.

2. In an exercising machine, the combination of: an engaging member adapted to contact a said shaft for counterbalancing purposes; means for rotating said shaft for moving said link and imparting oscillating motion to said connecting arm, rod and engaging member and a housing adapted to surround said last named means, said counterbalancing means, said link, and said connecting and to surround and journal a portion of said rod.

3. In a vibrating machine, the combination of: an engaging member adapted to contact a portion of the anatomy of a person; a rod providing arms, said arms being adapted to be associated with said engaging member; a connecting arm nonrotatably attached to said rod, said connecting arm being disposed substantially at right angles to said rod; a shaft adapted to be rotated, the axis of said shaft being substantially parallel to the axis of said rod; a link, one end of which is rotatably attached to said connecting arm, and the other end of which is rotatably associated with said shaft eccentric to the axis of rotation of said shaft; means associated with said shaft for counterbalancing purposes; and means for rotating said shaft.

4. In a vibrating machine, the combination of: an engaging member adapted to contact a portion of the anatomy of a person; a rod providing arms, said arms being adapted to be associated. with said engaging member; a connecting arm nonrotatably attached to said rod, said connecting arm being substantially at right angles to said rod; a motor so positioned that its driving shaft is substantially parallel to said rod; a link, one end of which is rotatably attached to said connecting arm, and the other end of which is rotatably associated with said shaft eccentric to the axis of rotation of said shaft, and means associated with said shaft for counterbalancing purposes.

5. In a vibrating machine, the combination of: an engaging member adapted to contact a portion of the anatomy of a person; a rod providing arms, said arms being adapted to be associated with said engaging member; a connecting arm nonrotatably attached to said rod, said connecting arm being substantially at right angles to said rod; a motor so positioned that its driving shaft is substantially parallel to said rod; a link, one end of which is rotatably attached to said connecting arm, and the other end of which is rotatably associated with said shaft eccentric to the axis of rotation of said shaft; means associated with said shaft for counterbalancing purposes; and a housing adapted to surround said counterbalancing means, said link and said connecting arm, and to surround and support said motor and said rod.

6. In an exercising machine, the combination of: a vertical rod having a pair of horizontal arms at its top; an engaging member adapted to contact a'portion of the anatomy of a person; hooks slidably adjustable upon said arms, said hooks being adapted to receive the ends of said engaging member; a horizontal arm non-rotatably attached to the lower end of said vertical rod; a motor positioned with its axis of rotation and shaft vertical; a crank non-rotatably associated with said shaft of said motor; and a horizontal link, one end of which is rotatably pivoted to said arm, and the other end of which is rotatably pivoted to said crank.

, 7. In an exercising machine, the combination of: a vertical rod having a pair of horizontal arms at its top; an engaging member adapted to contact a portion of the anatomy of a person; hooks slidably' adjustable upon said arms, said hooks being adapted to receive the ends of said engaging member; a horizontal connecting arm non-rotatably attached to the lower end of said vertical rod; a motor positioned with its axis of rotation and shaft vertical; a crank non-rotatably associated with said shaft of said motor; a horizontal link, one end of which is rotatably pivoted to said connecting arm, and the other end of which is rotatably pivoted to said "crank; and a housing adapted to surround said horizontal link, said horizontal connecting arm and said crank, to surround and journal said vertical rod and to surround and support said motor.

8. In an exercising machine, the combination of: a vertical rod having a pair of horizontal arms at its top; an engaging member adapted tocontact a portion of the anatomy of a person, the ends of said engaging member being slidably adjustable upon said arms; a horizontal connecting arm non-rotatablyattached to the lower end of said vertical rod; a motor positioned with its axis of rotation and shaft vertical; a crank nonrotatably associated with said shaft of said motor; a horizontal link, one end of which is rotatably pivoted to said connecting arm, and the other end of which is rotatably pivoted to said crank; and a housing adapted to surround said horizontal link, said horizontal connecting arm, and said crank, to surround and journal said vertical rod and to surround and support said motor.

9. An exercising machine comprising a member adapted to contact a portion of the anatomy of a person, an upright rod adapted to oscillate about its axis, arms extending from said rod and operatively rigid therewith, means normally connecting said first-mentioned member to said. arms, an operating arm non-rotatably connected to said rod, an upright shaft mounted for rota- 5 tion about its axis and disposed substantially parallel to said rod, an operatively rigid link, upright pivot means connecting one end of said link to said operating arm and the other end of said link to said shaft eccentric to the axis of rotation thereof, and means for rotating said shaft to move said link and impart oscillating motion to said arm, rod and first-mentioned member.

10. An exercising machine comprising a base, a housing with walls upstanding from said base, a motor having a shaft and provided with a base connected to one of said housing Walls so that its shaft normally extends vertically, a bearing carried by said housing, a normally vertical rod journaled in said bearing, means carried by the lower portion of said rod for actuation from the shaft of said motor, a rocker arm pivotally mounted on said housing for actuation by said vertical rod, an applicator with ends normally connected to said rocker arm, each independently slidable therealong and adapted to be actuated thereby, and means holding each end of said applicator on said arm in individually adjusted position.

11. An apparatus for kinesitherapy treatment, including an electric motor, a mount therefor upon which the motor is carried in elevated position with its armature shaft vertically disposed, an oscillatory yoke mounted upon the motor housing for oscillatory motion about a vertical axis, the arms of said yoke extending laterally beyond opposite sides of the motor for connection with an applicator and an operative connection between the armature shaft and the yoke.

HARRY C. WEAVER. 

